Make public transport women friendly

Currently, over 30 percent of women in Bangladesh are participating in the workforce, and according to the current rates this percentage is set to rise to above 80 within the next decade. Yet, the public transportation in the country and in the capital city, which these millions of working women need to use every day, is not only inadequate, but are also unsafe.

Yes, there are reserved seats for women and some female-passenger only buses are plying Dhaka, but these have not increased in proportion to the growing workforce. Mobility, safe and hassle free, is a crucial aspect if we want to encourage women's participation in the workforce. Yet, as a report in The Daily Star on Saturday highlighted, this aspect has been largely unattended. And it is not only for jobs that women have to travel, and public transport is the preferred choice for the majority. But, experiences of these travellers speak of overcrowded buses, hours of waiting in line and sexual harassment. In the rush to occupy the few seat in buses, women have to battle their way for some space every day. And if the reserved seats are filled, conductors have been known to discourage female passengers.

It is high time that mismanagement of the public transportation sector is dealt with and the demand is taken into account. Increasing the number of reserved seats and allocation of more women-only buses would be a start. But, for a long term solution, it is crucial that public transportation as a whole is overhauled. The rundown ramshackles need to be taken off the road. Most importantly, safety from unwanted advances has to be ensured—this needs not only strict penalties for those guilty but also a change in the way service is provided.